Marijuana, meth seized by State Patrol over weekend

Three separate stops, two of which were made in Central Nebraska by the Nebraska State Patrol, have resulted in the seizure of 45 pounds of marijuana and 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine.

The first stop occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. Friday. A trooper stopped an eastbound 2009 Nissan Maxima for speeding on Interstate 80 near Grand Island. The trooper was given consent to search the car and found 7 pounds of marijuana in the trunk, according to a press release from the State Patrol.

The release also gave the following information:

The driver, Aaron Bronson, 27, and a passenger, Joscelyn Banks, 21, both of Chicago, were charged in Hall County Court Tuesday for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and not having a drug tax stamp.

A second stop was made just before 10 a.m. Sunday. A trooper stopped an eastbound 1999 GMC pickup for speeding on I-80 near Lincoln. The trooper was given consent to search the pickup and found 38 pounds of marijuana located in two large duffel bags in the bed of the pickup. 

The driver, Jonathan Paulson, 59, of East New Market, Md., was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

The third stop was for defective brake lights. Shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, a trooper stopped a northbound 1992 Chevrolet Lumina near Coal Chute and Sweetwater Roads in Buffalo County.

A search of the car led to the discovery of 1.5 ounces of meth in the passenger area.  

The driver, Bernard Kersting, 37, and a passenger, Michael Long, 50, both of Kearney, were both lodged in the Buffalo County Jail for possession of meth with the intent to distribute.